10 Day Adriatic Coastal Adventure - Guided Motorcycle Tour in Croatia
Motorcycle Tour in Croatia
Prepare for miles and miles of nothing but the sheer blue sea on one side and the grey slopes of a mighty mountain on the other... Enjoy the view of the green vineyards and old olive groves scattered over the charming hilly areas of Istria and Dalmatia. Learn about several huge empires that ruled in these areas and see the wonderful succession of cultures and architecture integrated in the life of typical Mediterranean towns.
Key information
- Terrain: all asphalt, excellent roads
- Bike: personal or rental bike (BMW or Honda models)
- Mileage: 2,060 km / 1,280 miles
- Daily rides: 200 - 350 km / 124 - 217 miles
- Riding gear: available to rent
- Meals: 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and dinners except on rest days
Highlights
- Starts and ends in Zagreb
- Visit Istria; the home of exquisite wine, cheese, and truffles
- Discover Cres, Lošinj, Krk, and Hvar islands
- Experience wonderful coastal rides
- Ride through sceneries of majestic mountains
- Explore Dubrovnik, one of Croatia's best coastal destinations
- 9 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Intermediate
Accommodation
You will be accommodated at high rated hotels and accommodations.
Program
Itinerary
Day 1: Zagreb
Upon your arrival to Zagreb, Croatia, you will have an opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of one of the most attractive and vibrant Central European capitals. Depending on the time of your arrival, you might have time to do some sightseeing or simply to rest and prepare yourself for the excitement that awaits you. You will be given all the necessary information concerning your tour at the welcome dinner in the evening of the first day.
Day 2: Zagreb - Istria
Welcome to the first riding day of your coastal adventure. Your starting point is Zagreb and your goal will be to reach Istria – Croatia’s largest peninsula – the home of exquisite wine, cheese, and truffles. You are taking the ‘old road’ – formerly the only connection between the continental and coastal part of the country.
After the highway Zagreb-Rijeka was built, this road is rarely used, and luckily for you, it features good asphalt and some great curves. This road was built in early 19th century, in times of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, and was named ‘Lujzijana’ after Maria Luisa, the daughter of the Emperor Francis I of Austria.
You will ride through the magnificent mountain areas of Gorski Kotar – known for its deep dark woods and cool and clear mountain streams. In the evening, Adventure Roads Limited will let you pick from some of the truffle flavoured specialties perfectly paired with Malvasia Istriana. You will spend the night in Istria.
Day 3: Istria - Cres - Lošinj
Let’s take a tour of Istria, have a closer look at those vineyards and olive groves, and visit some of the picturesque villages located on hilltops arising from foggy valleys. Apart from being famous for the beauty of its nature, Istria is the area rich with history. Here, every village has some amazing old stories to tell and many Roman and early Slavic remains to prove them.
After leaving Novigrad, you will visit famous Lim fjord. The Lim bay and valley is a peculiar geographic feature found near Rovinj and Vrsar on the western coast of Istria, south of Poreč, Croatia. The name comes from the Latin limes for "limit", referring to the landform's position at the border of two Roman provinces: Dalmatia and Italia.
The Lim valley (Limska draga or Limska dolina) is the 35 km long valley of the river Pazinčica, which transforms into the Lim bay (Limski zaljev), a 10 kilometer long estuary. The Croats sometimes also call it Limski kanal ("Lim channel"), due to its narrow width. The estuary is sometimes called a fjord, although it is not in fact a fjord but a ria, because it was not carved by a glacier but by the river eroding the ground on its way to the Adriatic Sea, when the sea level was lower.
You will not miss the oysters tasting as it is one of the must taste specialties of the area. However there is a lot to see and experience in your today's ride and you will be heading on towards Rovinj, then going further down south to Pula and its famous Roman arena in the very center of the town, nearby breathtaking Stone Cape (Rt Kamenjak).
Your route will guide you through Istria all the way to the ferry boat port where you will pass in a short ferry ride to the archipelago of Cres and Lošinj islands. Amazing island ride, a must taste sheep dishes in several varieties in some of local konobas (authentic local restaurants) is certainly not to miss and no way you pass Cres without tasting it.
Continuing your amazing island ride further down south to Lošinj where you will be enjoying a true Mediterranean experience in all its senses. Smells, tastes, cuisine, sea, islands vegetation. Simply amazing. Lošinj is famous as well as an Island of vitality, famous for its air and sea currents that combine a special mix of extraordinary wellbeing.
Day 4: Lošinj - Krk - Zadar
Heading back to the island of Cres and taking another ferry ride, this time to reach the island of Krk, which is connected with the mainland with a big modern bridge. A ride past the charming coastal towns to the old pirate port with a fortress – Senj. You will be heading south alongside the magnificent Karolina road, one of the most scenic motorcycle coastal rides! Its a truly amazing and unforgettable riding day. The roads are marvelous, ride is amazing and the view is simply indescribable.
You will be ending the day in Zadar, a beautiful coastal city rich of history from Roman times. You could see many ancient Roman artefacts in the old town and enjoy the magnificent seaview sunset from one of the architectural marvels, a famous sea organ (instrument playing powered by the sea and air), from the famous place called "greeting to the Sun". A definite must see! This is the day to remember!
Day 5: Zadar
Today you will take a break in beautiful Zadar. There is plenty of opportunities out of which Adventure Roads Limited will offer you a sailing trip to famous Kornati archipelago. Easygoing time on the boat combined with delicious cuisine and stunning views will be the perfect rest from the ride and fueling you with energy for the next days of your journey.
Day 6: Zadar - Šibenik - Split - Hvar
You will ride right through the belly of Dalmatia, an area called Ravni Kotari – a place of ideal climate and fertile land, an area filled with marasca orchards, olive groves, and vineyards. You will get a chance to see another pirate bay - Skradin – an amazing location where the mountain river Krka meets the sea (Krka National Park). From the hilly roads of Dalmatian hinterland, you will take a look at the historical city of Šibenik and then rest for the night in the wonderful Mediterranean city of Split where you will take a ferry to the beautiful Island of Hvar.
Day 7: Hvar - Pelješac peninsula - Dubrovnik
Today you will be heading towards Pelješac peninsula in a truly amazing coastal ride. You will be passing through Ston bay, famous for its mussels, of course you will not miss the chance to taste this delicious sea specialty. Pelješac peninsula will show you a magnificent beauty of the scenic ride with the view to the deep blue Adriatic sea and vineyards of Plavac (the homeland of famous grape sort, that passed its glory all the way across Italy to USA (famous Zinfandel routes come from here). Sure you will not miss the opportunity to taste and enjoy it. Your evening will end back in Dubrovnik where you can enjoy the dinner, have a walk around the old town, or visit its surroundings, Adventure Roads Limited will make sure you take all the advantages this beautiful coastal town can offer you.
Day 8: Dubrovnik
Today you will take a break in Dubrovni and use the opportunity to explore it. The absolute best of the Croatian coastal destinations. ln case you would like and have some free time, you could visit Molunat - the cutest fishing village in the south part of Konavle, famous for its beautiful sandy beach. The entire region is famous for a number of exclusive and high-rating restaurants where you will surely taste some of the most amazing specialties of the south Dalmatian cuisine: smoked ham and cheese, young lamb and veal baked under an iron bell, home-baked bread and grilled fish of the finest quality. Due to its unique well-preserved architecture and the lush greenery of the centuries-old trees, the entire region of Konavle seems as if the time has stopped centuries ago. What a perfect place for a rest day!
Day 9: Dubrovnik - Makarska - Omiš - Split
Leaving Dubrovnik you will be heading to another beauty of the Adriatic and Dalmatian capital - town of Split. But you have a lot to explore and enjoy along the route. One of the exciting points is in the middle of the route and it takes a ride up the mountain of Sv. Jure (St George), above Makarska. It is the top of Biokovo mountain, a paved road takes you there until you reach the glass bridge with a stunning view to the Adriatic Sea, islands and distant sea horizon (in clear weather even Italian shores are visible too). It’s a breath taking in every sense. Dare to take a walk the glass walk above the cliffs, it’s a true experience of a lifetime and a story to tell (of course, don’t worry, a beer to take afterwards is a must if you need to calm a bit the excitement).
In the afternoon you will arrive to Split, it is Croatia's second-largest city. Split (Spalato in Italian) is a great place to see Dalmatian life as it’s really lived. Always buzzing, this exuberant city has just the right balance between tradition and modernity. Step inside Diocletian’s Palace (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most impressive Roman monuments) and you’ll see dozens of bars, restaurants and shops thriving amid the atmospheric old walls where Split has been humming along for thousands of years. To top it off, Split has a unique setting. Its dramatic coastal mountains act as the perfect backdrop to the turquoise waters of the Adriatic and help divert attention from the dozens of shabby high-rise apartment blocks that fill its suburbs. It's this thoroughly lived-in aspect of Split that means it will never be a fantasy land like Dubrovnik, but perhaps it's all the better for that.
Day 10: Split - Zagreb
This is your last riding day and you will head into green inlands of Croatia. It is a beautiful ride and you will not miss to stop for a famous delicacy of this area - baked lamb. You may use the opportunity to have a short visit of a Plitvice lakes national park before arriving back to your staring point in Zagreb for a farewell dinner.
Depending on your flight schedule, you may use the opportunity to have a walk in the historic city center of Zagreb, have a coffee in one of its charming streets. The airport is easily reachable so you can have a nice and relaxing time before your departure.
Motorcycles
- BMW R 1250 GS Adventure
- BMW R 1250 GS
- BMW F 750 GS
- Honda Africa Twin CRF 1000 L
- Suzuki V-Strom 1000 XT
- Suzuki V-Strom 650
Renting these top model motorcycles come with hard/lockable case(s) including a third-party liability insurance, and a comprehensive vehicle insurance.
Skill levels
Intermediate:
- can ride for 3-4 hours
- average riding experience
- little assistance required
- comfortable with extreme curves and leans
- average experience with unsurfaced roads
- steep ascents and descents
Location
Adriatic coast motorcycle tour is the best coastal roads in this part of Europe combined with unforgettable scenery and cultural wonders ranging from the oldest urban settlements in the entire region, to the numerous architectural and infrastructural remains of the Roman and Austrian-Hungarian empires still witnessing the centuries of their rule.
The tour begins by exploring the continental part of Istria, moves to the magical islands of Cres and Lošinj and continues by climbing the magnificent mountain of Velebit – a powerful giant dividing the country in two climate zones: coastal and continental. Upon entering Lika, the tour stops for the day at Plitvice Lakes – a natural wonder and an absolute must-see when on tour in Croatia.
Back to the coast, there are two more national parks on the way – Stari Grad Paklenica and Krka National Park, both known for their stunning natural beauty. Riding further south is an amazing road overlooking Dubrovnik and an opportunity to enjoy another region famous for its wine – Pelješac peninsula.
The next highlight in line is Split – urban Mediterranean jungle spreading from an ancient Roman palace. Finally, a ride past the royal city of Knin and past many other historical and natural attractions on the way to Zagreb leads right to the end of the journey.
Food
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
What's included
- Fuel for your motorcycle during the whole tour
- Experienced guide on a motorcycle
- Top model motorcycle with hard/lockable case(s) including a third-party liability insurance and a comprehensive vehicle insurance
- Support vehicle with additional motorcycle, your luggage and support necessities, it can accommodate two passengers (for guided tours with minimum 4 motorcycles and 8 participants)
- 9 nights accommodation during the tour in high-rating (4*) hotels or private accommodation
- Breakfasts (9) during the tour
- Lunches (7) during the tour except on free/rest days
- Dinners except on rest days; in authentic local restaurants whenever possible
- One drink per person during lunches and dinners
- Tolls, transfers, and ferry rides
- Tour description booklet with maps and highlighted routes
What's not included
- Airline tickets
- Airport transfers upon your arrival and departure
- Additional drinks
- Personal spending
- Speeding and traffic violation penalty tickets
- Tips
- Anything not listed under "What's included"
- Tour cancellation insurance (7.5%)
- VIP insurance (225 EUR)
- Super VIP insurance (270 EUR)
- Gear rental
- Motorcycle rental security deposit: 2000 EUR (if you opt for the rental motorcycle)
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Franjo Tuđman Airport
10 km
Transfer not provided
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 10% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.